Electric Line - Underground

How it Works

Underground electric line wiring provides power around your
property. It may provide electrical supply to sheds, outhouses, wells, swimming
pools, landscape lighting and more. Higher voltage applications may require a
conduit to protect the underground wiring.

Most underground electrical wire installations fall under
the National Electrical Code as well as local state and building codes. These
codes may specify or require any of the following:

Type and size of wiring

Type and size of conduit

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) system

Burying depth

Professional installation

Professional inspection prior to use

It is the homeowner’s responsibility to comply with
applicable requirements.

What Can Go Wrong?

The most common problem is accidental damage while digging.
Inadvertently digging into the charged wires during a construction or landscaping
job can harm those digging and damage the wiring. Know where your wiring is
located before any digging projects and call the “Call Before You Dig”
hotline to mark out any previously installed wiring. Wiring that is not rated
for underground use can fail and damage the circuit if water penetrates the
wiring.

Tips & Tricks

Maintenance Tips

Electrical wiring - when properly installed and protected - has an almost unlimited service life and requires virtually no routine maintenance.

Loss Prevention Tips

Consider the type, size and rating of your wiring
before purchasing. Only use wiring that is rated for underground use.

Make sure that any required ground fault circuit
interrupter (GFCI) systems are properly installed for outdoor power circuits.

Protect underground wiring with conduit of the
appropriate size and type based on your anticipated load.

Call the “Call Before You Dig” hotline before
starting any excavation projects. They’ll tell you where any buried wires and
pipes have been installed.